Stirrup-spur.



No. 644J6| Patented' Feb. 27, |900; T. e. COLEMAN.

STIBBUP SPUR.

(Application filed Dec. 4, 1899.)

(No Model.)

, 7% I NIH wu avvi a trice.

THOMAS G. COLEMAN, OF GUNSIGHT, TEXAS.

STIRRUP-SPUR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 644,161, dated February 27, 1900.

' Application led December 4, 1899. y Serial No. 739,149. (No model.)

T0 a/ZZ whom, zit may concern:

Beit known that I, THOMAS G. COLEMAN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Gunsight, in the county of Stephens and State of Texas, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Stirrup-Spurs, of which the following` is a full, clear, and exact description.

This. invention relates to that class of spurs for horsemen which are attached to and project laterally t'rom a saddle-stirrup.

My invention is designed, primarily, as an attachment for stirrups; but, as Will appear hereinafter, the spur may be made or furnished With the stirrup in the first instance.

The invention consists of a roWel mounted upon a shank, which in turn is arranged in a casing and normally projected therefrom by means of a spring and adapted to be retracted Within the casing and retained temporarily in such position, substantially as and for the purpose hereinafter more particularly set forth and finally claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, illustrating my invention, in the several figures of which like parts are similarly designated, Figure 1 is a perspective view of one common form of Wooden stirrup having my spur attached. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal vertical section of the spur-casing With the roWel-shank partly in elevation and the spring in elevation and showing the rowel projected for use. Fig. 3

is a similar view to Fig.- 2, but with the roWel' retracted. Fig. 4 is a similar sectional elevation taken in a plane at right angles to the plane of section of Figs. 2 and 3. Fig. 5 is a transverse section taken substantiallyin thel plane of line 5 5, Fig. 2, and looking toward the left. Y

I have herein illustrated my invention as an attachment applied to an ordinary Wooden stirrup et, but mean not to restrict my invention to its use on any kind of stirrup or to its use on a stirrup. f A

My invention comprises a casing b, one end of which is constructed With a removable annular nut or other plug c, against which the coiled spring CZ is seated, and the other end of this casing is provided with the iattened laterally ared chamber e, constituting a shield for the rowel and having the central tubular bearing f for the roWel-shank.

The rowel g may be of any approved construction and is mounted in the roWel-shank or bar h, which is inserted in the bearing f and projects into the casing and is engaged with the spring d by means of the transverse pin 1.', Which preferably plays in slots j in op posite sides of the casing b, so that the expansive force of the spring is exerted against the roWel-shank normally to project the roWel from the casing,- as shown in Figs. l, 2, and 4. The inner end of the roWel-shank is reduced or headed, as at 7c, and this headed end of the shank is adapted to be retracted Within the casing, so as to be projected beyond the nut orl plug cinto the position shown in Fig. 3 and to be engaged by a spring-detent l, Which may be riveted or otherwise secured to the casing b. The detent Z may be provided with a knob or handle m, Which When lifted into the dotted-line position, Fig. 3, Will disengage the detent from the roWel-shank and permit the spring .to actkto project the said rowel.

The mechanism described is inclosed With Van outer casing n,`which may be provided with the channel o to permit movement of the detent Z, and also provided with the flanges or brackets 1o, by means of Which .the spur may be attached to a stirrup. The knob m may be of sufficient diameter to fully close the end of the outer casing n.

When the roWel is Withdrawn, as in Fig. 3, it is practically concealed or covered over in the chamber e, and thus may be Withdrawn from activity at any time and especially when it is'not desired to use a spur, as When the riders animal is left standing.

By the use of the removable nut or plug c the spring d may be replaced readilyand economically.

' The outer casing n may be detachably conne'cted to the inner casing b by means of the screws or other fastenings q. (See Fig. 4.)

I do not limit my invention to thelocation of the detent l on the upper side of the inner tube, and, in fact, in practice it may be found advisable to place it on the under side.

It Will be noticed that the operative parts of the spur are thoroughly protected from atmospheric influences, dust, and mud.

Some of the advantages incident to the invention are that the spur is controlled by a spring, and thus the side stroke will not be IOO Sb severe as, but equally effective with, a solid stroke ofw a heel-spur, since the spring will give more or less under the stroke. Should the chamber e become clogged in use, it may be easily cleaned by forcing the rowel back into it and rotating said rowel. It will be observed also that it is but the Work of a moment to retract the rowel and to release it, and if a rider should have an animal requiring very infrequent use of the spur he may retract the spur and yet have it in constant readiness for use.

I have thus described the best mode in which I have contemplated applyingthe principle of my invention, but mean not to be restricted to the mere details set forth, since these may be changed at pleasure without departing from the principle of the invention.

Vhat I claim is- 1. A stirrup-spur, comprising a casing containing a spring, a rowel, a roWel-shank arranged Within said casing and engaged by said spring normally to project said rowel, a detent adapted to engage the roWel-shank when the said rewel is withdrawn into the casing, and an external casing provided with means for engaging the stirrup, substantially as described.

2. A spur, comprising a casing having one end formed With a laterally-extended iiattened chamber adapted to shield the roWel, a ro'Wel, a rowel-shank arranged Within said casing, a spring in said casing engaging said roWel-shank, a detent adapted to engage the roWel-shank and hold it against the tension of the spring, means to disengage the said detent from said shank, and an external casing, substantially as described.

3. A stirrnp-spur, comprisinga casing having one end provided With a removable nut or plug, a spring arranged Within-said casing, a rowel-shank adapted to be engaged by said spring normally to project it, a rowel in said shank, a roWel-shield at the outer end of said casing, a detent to engage the roWelshank when the rowel is retracted within said shield, and an external casing, the casings, spring, and roWel-shank being detachable at pleasure, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto Set my hand this 29th day of November, A. D. lSOf).

THOMAS G. COLEMAN. Witnesses:

E. J. WARD, J. T. DoUeLAss. 

